Fed up with association/assignor...

[kgeorge0263]

In response to your situation, I am sure other officials feel that they may not be getting games that they deserve and feel that the "ol' boys network" is holding them back. Although this may be the case, we as officials also think that we are better than we may be. You can only control your attitude, call selection, being a good partner, not talk poorly about your partners, coaches, assigner or administrators, and give 100% effort every game.

There are other opportunities if you feel that you are hitting a ceiling (attempting men's or women's college basketball), but those avocations also have politics, requires financial investment, includes more travel & scrutiny, and you also have situations you may disagree with how assigners work as well as where you see partners get games that you feel you should've had.

I would find a good mentor that can give you a true evaluation of your call selection, mechanics, communication with partners, players and coaches, your game management and then watch some tape.

Being frustrated and blaming others does not help our officiating brother/sisterhood. There are several article indicating that officials are quitting due to violence, poor fan behavior, and many other reasons (social media & media scrutiny), but I hope for people that do have the skill set continue to referee and give back to the game and players.

I'll get off my soapbox now...

KG

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by kgeorge0263

but I hope for people that do have the skill set continue to referee and give back to the game and players.

I have never refereed for the game or the players and never will.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by sc official

i have never refereed for the game or the players and never will.

+1

[Refhoop]

Originally Posted by deecee

+1

?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I have never refereed for the game or the players and never will.

I think we would say that because it was the PC thing to do. Then you realize that you do not give a damn about the players or even the "game" as people would like to suggest. You have to find a reason to leave the house and enjoy this avocation or it is not going to be fun and you will eventually stop.

Peace

[BryanV21]

One assignor for a hundred mile radius? Sounds to me that there aren't too many games to go around. And there's a chance that they already have a good crop of officials for the "higher level" varsity games around there.

BTW, I almost moved to another state and asked about what would happen as an official, seeing as how I'd finally worked my way into varsity. And I was told that I'd basically have to start at the bottom.

So your 10 years of experience may get your foot in the door, but you can't lean on that to say you deserve better. Just like when it comes to a new job. Your prior experience helped you get that job, but getting promoted or getting a raise is all about what you do for them... not what you did for somebody else.

So take all the games you can get. Use them to improve (ten years is not a lot), and prove to that assignor that you can do better. Eventually your time will come.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

One assignor for a hundred mile radius? Sounds to me that there aren't too many games to go around. And there's a chance that they already have a good crop of officials for the "higher level" varsity games around there.

BTW, I almost moved to another state and asked about what would happen as an official, seeing as how I'd finally worked my way into varsity. And I was told that I'd basically have to start at the bottom.

So your 10 years of experience may get your foot in the door, but you can't lean on that to say you deserve better. Just like when it comes to a new job. Your prior experience helped you get that job, but getting promoted or getting a raise is all about what you do for them... not what you did for somebody else.

So take all the games you can get. Use them to improve (ten years is not a lot), and prove to that assignor that you can do better. Eventually your time will come.

Ten years is a lot of time. You can still be terrible after ten years, but it's still a large chunk of time.

[JRutledge]

Some officials "get it." Others do not get it at all. Ten years does not mean you were good enough to get to a certain level. Heck I know officials that were never good and why they are only working a certain level or get to where they personally wanted to go, like working boys varsity as example.

Peace

[Rich]

Back when I started, people expected to put in 5 or so years at the subvarsity level.

Now people in their first year think they're good enough and wonder what assigners have against them.

As a varsity assigner, there are 25+ year officials I simply WILL NOT USE. I have only had one confront me about it, and it was a very unpleasant experience for me. Didn't change anything, though, as it didn't change the fact that he couldn't run the floor in a 3-person game, even.

Number of years and what the coaches think mean very little to me. My experience seeing coaches ratings (as an assigner) tells me that they have little idea what makes a good official.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I have never refereed for the game or the players and never will.

You literally have.

[RefCT]

Assignor is completely unapproachable and is rude and will interupt.

This raised my red flag and I suggest you look at how you are presenting the message.

As a manager, when someone is unapproachable, it usually means I have to change the way I am communicating my message. People receive and react to confrontation (and ways it is presented) in different ways. If he was completely unapproachable, he wouldn't be where he is. I suggest doing research to figure out how to best communicate with his personality type and then changing your message to match how he will best receive what you are trying to communicate/ask.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by RefCT

This raised my red flag and I suggest you look at how you are presenting the message.

As a manager, when someone is unapproachable, it usually means I have to change the way I am communicating my message. People receive and react to confrontation (and ways it is presented) in different ways. If he was completely unapproachable, he wouldn't be where he is. I suggest doing research to figure out how to best communicate with his personality type and then changing your message to match how he will best receive what you are trying to communicate/ask.

Exactly.

Many people are unapproachable when you go at them the wrong way.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Dad

You literally have.

Not me. I ref because it's something I enjoy. Period.

I don't do it for the kids, and I don't do it "for the game."

Even when I did Special Olympics, it was because I found it fun.

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by Adam

Not me. I ref because it's something I enjoy. Period.

I don't do it for the kids, and I don't do it "for the game."

Even when I did Special Olympics, it was because I found it fun.

I'm always perplexed that many referees have to argue about why people should ref. (Not pointing at you.) Some do it because they love the game and its a way to stay active in it. Some do it because they see it a way to work with kids and help kids. Some want to "give back" to the game. Some do it just because it's fun. Some do it as a less painful way to get exercise. Some do it to have an excuse to get out of the house. Some do it for money. And most, I suspect, do it for some combination of those reasons (and perhaps others I missed).

I don't think it matters a whit what a refs personal motivation is. What matters is the effort and dedication the person brings to doing it well and being a good partner.

(Though I do think that anyone who is not at least partially motivated by "it's fun" is unlikely to stay doing it for very long -- too many downsides to reffing at any level in any sport if it isn't fun.)

[Dad]

Originally Posted by Adam

Not me. I ref because it's something I enjoy. Period.

I don't do it for the kids, and I don't do it "for the game."

Even when I did Special Olympics, it was because I found it fun.

I'm going to assume, since you're a magician, you didn't actually fall for this. You were trying to prevent the inevitable, SC was forced to bite, haha.